Do Authors make good book buyers?

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I just wonder that we are spending quite a bit of time promoting books to boards most often visited by authors. I don't think authors buy many books.

I am curious, if it will make more sense to find boards where more readers hang out.  Wish you all the very best.

[David Wisehart]

This argument always baffles me. I was an avid reader before I was a writer, and continue to buy and read lots of books (mostly ebooks these days). There are, of course, many readers who aren't writers, but the opposite seems uncommon.

Are there a lot of authors who don't buy books?

David

[RonnellDPorter]

Oh, sure, they're great book buyers!

Now, trying to get an author to READ them, well... that's like trying to bring democracy to Cuba. I know that I'm going to stop growing as a writer if I don't keep reading, but I just have so much I want to write...

[Sandra Edwards]

I don't think authors buy many books.

You couldn't prove that by the 600+ books on my K3.

[Jennybeanses]

I am an avid reader and book reviewer, as well as being a writer, so *shrug*

[Amanda Brice]

You're kidding, right?

Quite to the contrary, I think writers make the best book buyers. Writers tend to buy way more books than non-writers (now whether they have time to get to reading them all remains to be seen).

Every writer I know has a TBR pile (or queue, if e-books) of at LEAST 10-15 books, and some many, many more. The non-writer population generally buys books as they go along.

And what do you think writers were before they became writers? Readers.

Now granted this is just a small sample of my group of friends, but all my non-writer friends tend to read like 20 or less books PER YEAR. (And some many, many less than that...like 5-10.) My writer friends can get through that many in a month. :lol:

Should you go where your readers are? Absolutely. But i don't think that a board that's frequented by both writers and readers is necessarily a bad thing. I also don't think that writer boards and reader boards are necessaily exclusive.

[historicalromauthor]

Wow, writers don't buy many books! Really? Why do you think we became writers. And I have to tell you on reader boards, they are NOT writer friendly because they know we're there to promote and market our books. They hate that.

[Amanda Brice]

And I have to tell you on reader boards, they are NOT writer friendly because they know we're there to promote and market our books. They hate that.

^^ This. that's what's nice about Kindleboards. It's open to writers and readers alike.

[Sean Sweeney]

I buy several books a week even when I have several hundred on a TBR pile, while writing a book.

[Paul Clayton]

Not this one.  I'm a busy guy with a day job and a helluva commute, and my own writing when I can keep my eyes open.  Plus, I have three book cases full of books that I've read and have not read, mostly have not.  And about another dozen on the Kindle.  I love books, and love bookstores, and Amazon.  But I can't bring myself to buy books that I won't get around to for another five years, if I live that long.  Now when I retire, I'm gonna get me a nice Lazyboy, a new set of readers, and begin to reduce my backlog.  That's the plan.  We'll see.

[Tara Maya]

I used to read novels voraciously. Now I merely read novels hungrily. I like to read fiction while I am writing, it keeps me in the right mood. The biggest competition to my fiction reading is my nonfiction reading. There were even a few years where I only read a dozen novels a year because I was busy reading another hundred nonfiction books. Ok, who am I kidding. I spend a fortune on books. In fact, I mainly sell novels to fund my reading addiction.

[caethesfaron]

I have never met a writer that wasn't a reader. I've also never met a non-writer who reads more books a year than the writers I know. Do you read? Do you buy books?

If you're going to join reader communities you need to join as a reader, not a writer. This means you shouldn't be promoting your books there unless invited to do so or if the community rules allow you to.

Plus, the writers here have friends and family that aren't writers and circles of influence that expand beyond fellow writers. Guess what? If they like you're book they'll tell the people they know about it.

[Dawn McCullough White]

I don't read much fiction at all.  I know, I'm not supposed to say that am I?  I'm supposed to say, "I read constantly, it's the only way I can improve as a writer."  I'm a binge reader.  I get in a mood every few months (yes, months) and buy a book and devour it if it's any good, and then I devour the rest of the series.  Usually in a week.  Then I write a book.  It takes me close to a year to write a book, and I generally don't read while I'm writing.

Am I atypical?  Apparently so.
Dawn

[sibelhodge]

This argument always baffles me. I'm was an avid reader before I was a writer, and continue to buy and read lots of books (mostly ebooks these days). There are, of course, many readers who aren't writers, but the opposite seems uncommon.

Are there a lot of authors who don't buy books?

David

I agree. It would be odd for authors not to by books. I always think what better job in the world, because you can read books as part of you research into great writing!

[MrMiracle]

I have an ongoing offer on the nookboards to review the book of any first-time or fairly new sci-fi/fantasy author.  I even pay for the book if it's reasonably priced.  I'm on my fifth book now.

[Daphne]

I download (and read) all sorts of books, including a heap of free classic. I've also bought and read dozens of books from other KB authors which have caught my eye and it has been a good reading experience as I have read and enjoyed books in new genres. But really I hang out in the Writer's Cafe for the wealth of advice, support and entertainment (and occasional controversy  ).

[Christine Kersey]

Reading has always been my passion. My problem is that I want to own tons of books, but then don't have enough time to read them. I'm in the middle of reading about 8 different books right now. And honestly, since I'm not making enough money on my own book sales to pay the mortgage, I'm using the money for my book fund so I can buy more books!

[Glenn Bullion]

I can see the OP's point somewhat.  I used to read like crazy, and only write a little.  That's flipped a little, and my reading habits have slowed a little.  Not to mention I have other hobbies as well, and I simply don't get to read as much as I used to.

But I still read.  I would definitely think all writers are also readers.

[Alexis-Shore]

One of my favourite writers just messaged me to say she'd bought my latest book and was enjoying it.

So yes.

[WVMark]

I still buy books, yes.  But, I find that I'm not buying as many fantasy books as I used to.  I seem to be more selective since I've published some fantasy books.  Or maybe I would have gotten more selective if I hadn't, but I'll never know that.  I still buy and read Parker's Spencer novels, but now that he's gone, that will go away.  And I'm bummed about that.  I'll have to find another author of a series to pick up and read. 

Overall, yes, I think authors make good book buyers.  I think part of the reason authors are writing is because they love reading.

Mark

[Edward C. Patterson]

I spend about $2,000 or more per year on books and have a $6,000 Amazon credit balance. Some of us buy. I read 6 books at a time and try my best to follow Uncle Stevie's rule of reading as many hours per day as I write.

Edward C. Patterson

[edwardgtalbot]

Authors are HUGE book buyers.  However, that doesn't necessarily mean that hanging out at authors boards sells books. But it basically goes like this - if it's a board where promotion is allowed - author's board, promote my work thread, etc - odds are great your book will be lost in the mass of promotion.  If it's not a board where promotion is allowed, then you won't be able to directly promote your book.  IMO you should still engage in both of these to at least some extent, but neither will have an immediate or dramatic impact on your sales.

Beyond that, I'm newbie enough at this to not say any more about who to connect with and how to do it. A lot of threads here have shared what works for them, and I will certainly do so as well as time goes by.  But one thing's for sure, there are no simple answers - keep trying stuff until it works.

[bellaandre]

I buy - and read - a tremendous number of books.  I have been known to knock through them on my kindle (or iphone, as that's where I generally use my kindle app) at a rate of one a day.

As for hanging out with other authors on this board, I love this board because I'm constantly learning and picking up ideas on how to best self-publish the books I'm self-publishing.  It's a fabulous bonus that we inevitably buy each other's books!

Bella

[Arkali]

I think both of your premises are flawed (sorry).
1) Most writers that I know are avid readers.  That's one of the reasons they started writing in the first place.
2) Kindleboards is not just just a board for writers.  The Cafe is writer-heavy, yes, but a lot of readers also hang out or lurk here.  If you venture out into the other child-boards (Book Corner, etc.) you'll find a higher concentration of pure readers.

That said, I totally agree with what everyone else has said.  If you head out with the idea of pimping your books, you'll probably get a chilly reception.  Whatever community you go to, go as a member, not as a salesman.

[Amanda Brice]

Whatever community you go to, go as a member, not as a salesman.

This.